Linen drier



Nov. 27, 1956 H. u. F. JAUZAC LINEN DRIER Filed Aug. 7, 1953 UnitedStates Paten My invention has for its object a quick-acting linen drieroperating under the combined action of steam and of the hot gasesevolved by the source of heat which serves for actually vaporizing thesteam, said drier incorporating means for adjusting the temperatureunder the control of steam pressure.

Accompanying drawings illustrate by way of example a preferredembodiment of a drier according to my in vention. In said drawings:

Fig. l is a longitudinal cross-section of the drier;

Fig. 2 is a transverse cross-section thereof.

The main section of the drier illustrated comprises a convex plate :1adapted to carry the material to be dried, said plate being formed by aheat-conductive material such as a metal sheet, preferably a sheet ofaluminium 1 mm. thick. Said convex plate is bent into a substantiallyinverted U-shape so that its vertical cross-section assumes acurvilinear outline which is parabolic in the case illustrated; it isdesigned in a manner such that the wet article laid over the plate bearsover it naturally under the action of gravity throughout its contactingsurface extending from the top to the bottom of the plate without itbeing necessary to urge the articles into contact with the plate.

In order to avoid the formation of any stains on the article to be driedand to cut out the necessity of a costly upkeep, the outer surface ofthe plate is submitted to a suitable protective treatment, e. g. it iscovered by a coat of alumina, as obtained by the conventional anodictreatment in the case of the use of a sheet of aluminium. At each of itsends facing the ground, the plate is turned outwardly so as to form twosmall troughs which prevent the water dripping oif the wet article fromreaching the ground.

Underneath the convex plate and in the vertical plane of symmetrythereof, is positioned a boiler formed of a seamless tube, the ends ofwhich are formed by hemispherical caps.

Said boiler is connected with arcuate tubes made preferably of seamlesssteel tubes. The boiler feeds the tubes through the ends of the latterwhich open into the boiler obliquely ata suitable angle with referenceto the horizontal. Each tube is bent at the inner surface of the plateand thereafter follows said surface. The surface of each tube isflattened in register with the inner surface of the plate and engagesthe latter. The outlines of the tubes correspond exactly with theoutline of the cross-section of tions of gas and air, said means beingcontrolled by a manometrically governed regulator f admitting gas intothe burner in accordance with the value of steam pressure at the momentconsidered. This regulator is adjusted for and the plate.

circuit, it need not be removed except at long intervals.

operation at a predetermined pressure according to the intended use ofthe drier beyond which pressure the regulator cuts out substantially theadmission of gas and sets the burners in their pilot light condition.The connection of the regulators with the steam body is tapped at lotfthe right hand side of the boiler.

The system is closed along its two transverse surfaces and underneaththe lower parts of the longitudinal surfaces by a casing it made ofsheet metal and which is joined to the plate with the insertion of partsof asbestos board It or the like insulating material.

Inside the arrangement, a bafiie i constrains the burnt gases to followa longer path of travel before passing out the exhaust stack. Lastly, astop cock g allows cutting off the feed of gas.

The opening m which serves for filling the boiler may be located ateither end thereof and projects outside the casing; it lies at a levellower than that passing through the axis of the boiler so as to allowthe latter to be filled at the utmost to one half of its capacity. Saidopening m is closed by a plug n incorporating a cap of fusible materialmelting at a temperature of about 230 C.

The operation of the arrangement is as follows:

The steam produced inside the boiler or header c fills the arcuate tubesand heats the plate a through contact of the latter with the saidarcuate tubes. However, be tween the input ends of the tubes registeringwith the boiler and the upper ends thereof, the steam cools slightly byreason of the heat transmitted by it to the convex plate. This loss intemperature is compensated for by the rising of the hot combustion gaseswhich after sweeping over the boiler fill the upper part of the drier.This combined action produces a gradual anduniform heating of the plate.The flat outer surfaces of the tubes are in direct contact with saidplate. The spacing between the successive tubes should be such that thedistribution of heat throughout the plate is uniform and that no areasmay show a substantial difference in temperature. Calculation shows thatthe optimum efficiency of the drier is obtained when the breadth of thefree sections of the plate between two tubes is at the utmost equal tothree times the breadth of the surface of contact between one of thetubes Under such conditions, the steam having an actual operativepressure of 4.5 kgs. per sq. cm., which corresponds to a temperature of156 C., produces a uniform plate temperature adapted to dry extremelywet linen within 3.5 to 4 minutes with a consumption of 335 litres ofgas per hour and per sq. m. of plate surface.

The pressure-controlled regulator which is sensitiveto differences ofpressure of about 300 gr. per sq. cm,, provides an extremely accurateadjustment of temperature throughout the plate. The temperature ofthelatter is such that the dried linen gives the impression of havingbeen ironed, while it may be left 2 or 3 hours on the plate without anyrisk of burning. Hitherto, the temperatures used for drying linenwereequal at a maximum to C.; with the arrangement according to myinvention, Imay reliably obtain a speedy drying with auniformtemperature of plate of C. with an allowance of 15 C. above orbelow said temperature.

. The total volume of the tubes and of the boiler is such in the exampleillustrated that if the temperature rises up to 500 C., the steampressure would be only 60 kgs. per sq. cm.; now, the fusible cap in theplug closing the boiler melts at about 230 C. and the test pressure ofthe different parts formed of seamless drawn steel tubes, is equal toabout 75 kgs. per sq. cm. I t

The volume of water contained inside the boiler is extremely small and,as the water operates in a closed 'What I claim is:

l. A linen "drier adapted to operate at'a'highspeed, comprising anupwardly convex plate having a vertical plane of symmetry on which thearticles to be dried are adapted tobe' "laid and made'of heat-conductivematerial, 'aboilerincluding a seamless tubethe endsof which"form-hemispherical caps and extending underneath the "plate "inthevertical plane of symmetry of the latter, a pluralityof'arcuate'seamless steel tubes arranged in successive verticalcross-sectional planes of the convex plate *and extending in contactingrelationship with the inner outline of said plate, last mentioned tubesopening into the boiler tube to'either side of the plane ofsymmetry-along oblique radii ofthe said boiler tube, burners for heatingthe boiler; means'controlled by the steam pressure in -the arcuate tubesand adapted to control the operation of the heating burners and meansfor exhaustingath'e-combu-stion gases produced by the burners andentering inside the convex plate.

2. .A linen-drier adapted to operate at a high speed, comprising 'anupwardlyconvex plate having a vertical :planeof-"symmetry on which thearticles to be dried are adapted to beclaid and made of heat-conductivematerial,

a boiler including a seamless tube the ends of which form hemisphericalcaps and extending underneath the plate in the vertical plane ofsymmetry of the latter, a plurality of arcuate seamless steel tubesarranged insuccessive vertical crosssectional planes of the convex plateand extending in' contacting'relationship with the inner outline of.said plate, last mentioned tubes opening into the boiler tube -to.eitherside of the plane of symmetry along oblique radii, of the said boilertube, the outer surfaces of the tubes being flat so as to engage snuglythe inner wall of-thetconvex plate, means forheating the boiler, meanscontrolled by the steam pressure in the arcuate tubes and adaptedtocontrol the operation of the heating means.

3. A. linen drier adapted to operate at a high speed, comprising;an.upwardly convex plate having a vertical .plane of symmetry on whichthe articles to be dried are adapted to be laid and made ofheat-conductive material, the outline of said plate being roundedoutwardly to allowthe laying thereon of the articles to be dried, whicharticles adhere to said'outer surface under the mere action of gravity,a boiler including a seamless tube the ends .of which form hemisphericalcaps and extending underneath the platein the vertical plane of symmetryof thelatter, a. plurality of arcuate seamless steel tubes arranged insuccessive vertical cross-sectional planes of the convex plate andextending in contacting relationship with the inner outline of saidplate, last mentioned tubes opening into the boiler tube to either sideof the plane of symmetry along oblique radii of the said boiler tube,means for heating the boiler, means controlled by the steam pressure inthe arcuate tubes and adapted to control the operation of the heatingmeans. 1

4. A linen drier adapted to operate at a high speed, comprising anupwardly convex plate having a vertical plane of symmetry on which thearticles to be dried are adapted to be laid and made of heat-conductivematerial, havinga treated outer surface preventing the stain-ingot thearticles laid thereon, a boiler including a seamless tube the ends ofwhich form hemispherical caps and extending underneath the plate in thevertical plane of symmetry of the latter, a plurality of arcuateseamless steel tubes arranged in successive vertical cross-sectionalplanes :o'fithe convex plate and'extending in contactingrelationship'with. the inner outline of said'plate, last mentionedtubesopeninginto the boiler tube to either .side of the planeof.symmetry along oblique radii of the said boiler tube, means forheating the boiler, means controlled by the-steam pressure in thearcuate tubes and adapted to control the operation of the heating means,

SUA linen drier adapted to operate at a high speed,

comprising an upwardly convex plate having avertical:

planezof symmetry on which the articles to be dried are adapted to belaid and made of heat-conductive material,

4 I the lower edges of the plate being outwardly incurv to form troughsadapted 'tocollect the water drippingfofi the wet articles lying on theconvex plate, a boiler including a seamless tube the ends of which formhemispherical caps and extending underneath the plate in the verticalplane of symmetry of the latter, a plurality of arcuate seamless steeltubes arranged insuccessive vertical crosssectional planes of the convexplate and extending in contacting relationship=with theinner outliner ofsaid plate, last mentioned tubes opening into the-boiler tube to eitherside or the plane of symmetry along oblique radii of the saidboilertube, means for heating';the'boiler, mean-s cont-rolled bythesteam pressure in the arcuate tubes and adapted to control theoperation'ofthe'heating means.

6. A linen drier adapted to operate at a high speed, comprising anupwardly convex outwardly parabolic plate having a vertical plane ofsymmetry on which the articles to'be dried are adapted tobe laid andmade of-heatconductive"matenial, a boilerdncludi'ng a"sea'mless"tube theends of which 'form hemispherical caps and exten'ding underneaththeplate in th'e vertical plan'eof symmetry of'the latter, apluralityof-arcuate seamless steel tubes arranged in successive verticalcross-sectionalplanesof the convex plate and extendingincontacting'relati-onship with the inner outline'of said plate, lastmentioned tubes opening into the boiler tube to either side ofthe planeof symmetry along oblique radii of the said' boiler tube, means forheating the boiler, means controlled by the 'steampressurein the arcuatetubes andadapted to control-the operation of the heating means.

7. A linen drier adapted to operate-at a high"speed, comprisinganupwardly convex plate having a vertical plane of symmetryb'n which thearticles to be'dried are adapted to be laid and made-ofheat-conductivematerial, a-bo'ile'r including a'seamless' tube the endsof 'Which'form hemispherical caps and 'extending'underneath the plate inthe vertical plane 'of symmetry of the latter, a 'plurality of :arcuateseamless steel tubes arranged in successive vertical cross-sectionalplanes of the convex plate and-extending: in contacting relationshipwith thc inner outline of said plate,lastmentioned tubes open-ing intotheboiler tubeto either side of the plane of symmetry alongobli'queradii-of the-said boilentube, fluid-operated means-for heating theboiler, a pressure-controlled regulator: submittedtosthe action ofsteampressure so .as'to cut on at least the major part of the operativefiuidi'fed to the boiler heatingmeans.

. 8.=A-linen drier-adapted to operate .at?a:.high"speed, comprisinguan.upwardly convex plate having :a 1 vertical plane of symmetry on whichthe articles to be dried-tare adapted to be :laid vand madeof heatconductive'material, a-boiler includinga seamless tubezthe ends of:which form hemispherical caps and-extending underneath the plate in thevertical plane of symmetry of the latterymeans for feeding water to theboiler. through anopeuinglocated at a levelusuchzthat the capacity ofthe boilerfis only filled .to'aboutbnehalf, a plurality of arcuateseamless steel tubes arranged in successive vertical: crossrsectionalplanes of the convex plate and extendingsin contactin'grelationship-withithe inner outline of said plate; last; mentioned-tubesopening into the boilertube toeitherzside of theplaneofsymmetry alongoblique radii of thezsaid .boiler.tube,,means. for heating the boiler,meanscontrolled zby the=steam-pressurein the---arcuate:.:tubes andadapted. to control the operation of the heating,means.-.,

9. A linen drier adapted to operate -at l a .highispeed,comprisinganupwardly convex plate having;a vertical plane of symmetry onwhich the articles-toibetdried ,are adapted totbe laid and made ofheat-conductivematerial, a boilenincludingga seamless tube the endsiofwhich-form hemisphericalv caps and extending underneath the ,platetinthe vertical plane of symmetry of thelatter; meansator feeding water tothe boiler and includingasafetyplugand a7 cap;,of. fusible-materialtherein adapted ,to v.meltlat at predetermined limit temperature toallow the water and snubsteam to pass out of the boiler, a plurality ofarcuate seamless steel tubes arranged in successive vertical crosssectional planes of the convex plate and extending in contactingrelationship with the inner outline of said plate, last mentioned tubesopening into the boiler tube to either side of the plane of symmetryalong oblique radii of the said boiler tube, means for heating theboiler, means controlled by the steam pressure in the arcuate tubes andadapted to control the operation of the heating means.

10. A linen drier adapted to operate at a high speed, comprising anupwardly convex plate having a vertical plane of symmetry on which thearticles to be dried are adapted to be laid and made of heat-conductivematerial, a boiler including a seamless tube the ends of which formhemispherical caps and extending underneath the plate in the verticalplane of symmetry of the latter, a plurality of arcuate seamless steeltubes arranged in successive vertical cross-sectional planes of theconvex plate and extending in contacting relationship with the inneroutline of said plate, last mentioned tubes opening into the boiler tubeto either side of the plane of symmetry along oblique radii of the saidboiler tube, burners for heating the boiler, means controlled by thesteam pressure in the arcu ate tubes and adapted to control theoperation of the heating burners, means for exhausting the combustiongases produced by the burners and entering inside the convex plate, abafile system adapted to constrain the combustion gases to follow a pathof predetermined length on the inside of the plate and an exhaust stackthrough which the gases passing out of the bafile system are removedinto the atmosphere.

11. A linen drier adapted to operate at a high speed, comprising anupwardly convex plate having a vertical plane of symmetry on which thearticles to be dried are adapted to be laid and made of heat-conductivematerial, a boiler including a seamless tube the ends of which formhemispherical caps and extending underneath the plate in the verticalplane of symmetry of the latter, a plurality of arcuate seamless steeltubes arranged in successive vertical cross-sectional planes of theconvex plate and extending in contacting relationship with the inneroutline of said plate, last mentioned tubes opening into the boiler tubeto either side of the plane of symmetry along oblique radii of the saidboiler tube, means for heating the boiler,

means controlled by the steam pressure in the arcuate tubes and adaptedto control the operation of the heating means, a casing extending overthe lateral open surfaces of the plate and under the Walls of said plateand a heatinsulating packing fitted between said plate and said casing.

12. A linen drier adapted to operate at high speed, comprising a plateof heat conducting material having its ends extending downwardly fromits medial portion to form a hood having open sides and an outer convexsurface on which articles to be dried are adapted to be laid, meansclosing the open sides of the hood, a steam boiler in said hood, aplurality of tubes connected to said boiler and having heat exchangecontact with the inner surface of said plate, means for heating saidboiler with gaseous combustion products, and means for passing thegaseous combustion products after contacting said boiler into directheat exchange contact with the inner surface of said plate.

13. A linen drier adapted to operate at high speed, comprising a plateof heat conducting material having its ends extending downwardly fromits medial portion to form a hood having open sides and an outer convexsurface on which articles to be dried are adapted to be laid, meansclosing the open sides of the hood, a steam boiler in said hood, aplurality of tubes connected to said boiler and having heat exchangecontact with the inner surface of said plate, means for heating saidboiler with gaseous combustion products, means for passing the gaseouscombustion products after contacting said boiler into direct heatexchange contact with the inner surface of said plate, and meansresponsive to the pressure of steam in the tubes to control the supplyof hot combustion gases to said boiler and to the interior of the hoodin contact with said plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,145,209 Bock Jan. 24, 1939 2,586,036 Hedin Feb. 19, 1952 FOREIGNPATENTS 2,724 Great Britain A. D. 1899 286,658 Germany Oct. 29, 1915731,622 France May 31, 1932

